Vocabulary:



Topography- the shape of the land
Elevation- the height above sea level of a point on Earth's surface
Relief- the difference in a area between the highest and lowest parts in elevation
Landform- a feature of topography formed by the process that shapes Earth's surface
Landform region- a large area of land where the topography is similar to a landform
Plain- a type of landform that is made up of flat rolling land with low relief
mountain- a type of landform with high elevation and high relief
mountain range- a chain of mountains that have almost the same shape and features
plateau- a type of landform with a more or less level surface and is elevated above sea level
lithosphere- a rough layer made up of the upper part of the mantle and crust (one of the 4 spheres of earth)
atmosphere- the mixture of gases that surrounds the earth. (outside layer of the four spheres)
hydorosphere- earth's water and ice. (one of the 4 spheres of earth)
biosphere- all living things (one of the 4 spheres of earth)


Outline


Topography
  • topography of a place is determined by the area's elevation, relief, and landforms.
  • Elevation
  • Relief
  • Landform

Types of Landforms
  • 3 main types of landform:
    • Plains
      • coastal plain
        • low elevation, low relief
      • interior plain
        • low relief, elevation varies
    • Mountains
      • high elevation, high relief
      • moutain-mountain chain-mountain system-mountain belt
    • Plateaus
      • high elevation, more/less level surface
      • rarely perfectly smooth

Earth's Four Spheres
  • Lithosphere
    • made up of continents + smaller landmasses
    • extends under ocean floor
    • surface may vary
  • Atmosphere
    • outermost layer
    • most abundant gases
      • oxygen
      • nitrogen
    • also contain
      • water vapor
      • carbon dioxide
      • other gases
  • hydrosphere
    • mostly consists of salt water in oceans
      • oceans=two thirds of earth
  • Biosphere
    • all living things
    • extends to all the spheres

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